Acupuncture in Menopause (AIM)

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The primary purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of acupuncture for treating vasomotor and other symptoms associated with menopause as acupuncture is generally practiced in the "real world" setting and to obtain a comprehensive assessment of use patterns and symptom relief over time. This study will allow us to determine treatment patterns recommended by practicing acupuncturists, adherence to these treatments, and the effectiveness of different treatment patterns for reducing hot flashes. Results of this study will provide meaningful information to women in terms of number and frequency of acupuncture treatments likely to be needed to reduce hot flashes.

This group will start acupuncture treatments within 3 weeks of consent and continue to receive up to 20 treatments over a six month period. The number of treatments will be jointly determined by the participant and the acupuncturist.

Procedure: Acupuncture

For the Acupuncture group: Women will be eligible to receive from 1 to 20 treatments over a six month period. These women will receive an initial evaluation by a acupuncturist and will be given a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) diagnosis as well as a recommended treatment schedule which they can then negotiate.

Women in the waitlist group will not receive any acupuncture for 6 months. At the end of the 6 month period the participants will be allowed to begin the acupuncture treatments.

Waitlist

This group of participants will be asked to wait 6 months and will then be allowed to receive acupuncture.

Procedure: Acupuncture

For the Acupuncture group: Women will be eligible to receive from 1 to 20 treatments over a six month period. These women will receive an initial evaluation by a acupuncturist and will be given a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) diagnosis as well as a recommended treatment schedule which they can then negotiate.

Women in the waitlist group will not receive any acupuncture for 6 months. At the end of the 6 month period the participants will be allowed to begin the acupuncture treatments.

Hot Flashes will be monitored via daily diary. This diary will be filled out daily for the first six months (post randomization) of the study and then 1 week per month for the remaining 6 months of the study.

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contacts provided below. For general information, Learn About Clinical Studies.

Ages Eligible for Study:

45 Years to 60 Years (Adult)

Sexes Eligible for Study:

Female

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

No

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Women experiencing on average 4 Hot Flashes a day

Women aged 45-60

Peri or Post menopausal Women (No periods for at least 3 months)

Exclusion Criteria:

Women who have initiated CAM or non-CAM treatments for hot flashes in the last 4 weeks

Women who have changed their dose of a CAM or non-CAM treatments for hot flashes in the last 4 weeks

Women who have initiated antidepressants in the last 3 months

Women who have changed their dose of an antidepressant in the last 3 months

Women who have had acupuncture in the last 4 weeks

Women who have received acupuncture from one of the study acupuncturists in the last 6 months will be excluded from the study

Women who describe their health as fair or poor are excluded from the study